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US Surgeon General Urges Everyone to Wear Masks

VOA News

   The top U.S. health official is urging everyone to wear a mask when out
   in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but he stopped short of
   saying there needs to be a nationwide mandate.

   A day after President Donald Trump was seen for the first time wearing
   a face covering in public, Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on CBS's
   Face the Nation Sunday that people need to be educated on why it is
   important to cover their faces instead of the "big brother" approach.

   "As surgeon general, I want people to understand why they should wear a
   face covering, and they are going to be more likely to do it and more
   likely to do it willingly, and they're going to be more likely to do it
   when we are not watching, which is important," Adams said.

   Dr. Adams said the Trump administration is working hard to walk back
   its earlier message on masks, which was that they aren't necessary.

   Trump himself has wavered between mocking those who wear face masks and
   saying he doesn't see anything wrong with it.

   He was pictured wearing one Saturday during a visit to Walter Reed
   National Military Medical Center.

   "When you're in a hospital, especially ... I think it's a great thing
   to wear a mask," he said.

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